WESTFORD CENTER — The School Committee unanimously approved Superintendent Dr. Christopher Chew’s annual performance evaluation on June 15, awarding him an overall rating of “Proficient.”
The evaluation recognized his progress toward district goals, strategic planning efforts and community engagement initiatives.
Committee members evaluated Chew’s performance across four state standards: instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. The review also assessed progress on a student learning goal, a professional practice goal and two district improvement goals.
School Committee member Bill McDonald presented the committee’s evaluation, saying that Chew met his student learning goal focused on student belonging and engagement and made significant progress toward his professional practice goal centered on collaborative leadership.
McDonald said Chew also met one district improvement goal through completion of the district’s Fiscal Year 2027-30 Strategic District Improvement Plan and made substantial progress on a report card committee initiative.
In instructional leadership, McDonald said that Chew’s work establishes a standardized curriculum review cycle, which will provide a more consistent process for evaluating curriculum needs across grade levels and subject areas. McDonald also said that there was progress in expanding universal design for learning practices and implementing a district curriculum accommodation plan designed to support students with diverse learning needs.
The committee also praised Chew’s leadership in management and operations, particularly the district’s school start times initiative. McDonald noted Chew’s ability to respond to feedback and adjust implementation strategies while maintaining focus on district goals.
In the evaluation, committee members also recognized Chew’s leadership during the ongoing Robinson School feasibility study and his handling of legislative and regulatory issues affecting schools. The Committee specifically commended his focus on student well-being, belonging and district values during complex policy discussions.
In the area of family and community engagement, the committee highlighted the district’s use of ThoughtExchange surveys, community coffee meetings, Tri-Board discussions with the Select Board and Finance Committee, and public forums related to the Robinson School project. The committee said those efforts have expanded opportunities for community input and engagement.
Chew thanked the committee for its feedback and emphasized that the accomplishments highlighted in the evaluation reflected collaborative work throughout the district.
“The truth of the matter is that this is teamwork,” Chew said. “The goals have all been aligned with what we’re trying to do at the school level and what we’re trying to do in the classroom.”
Following the discussion, the committee voted unanimously to accept the evaluation. Under state guidelines, Chew will now move into a two-year evaluation cycle, with a formative review scheduled next year and his next evaluation planned for the end of the 2027-28 school year.
